"We will be independent," Catalan regional leader says
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Sunday
August 14, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022
"We will be independent," Catalan regional leader says

World+Biz

Reuters
07 February, 2020, 08:55 pm
Last modified: 07 February, 2020, 09:00 pm

Related News

  • Catalan party ties Spain's government stability to separatist drive
  • Spanish PM hopes to meet Catalan leader, Madrid to negotiate deficit targets
  • Spain's top court asks EU Parliament to strip Catalan separatist leaders of immunity

"We will be independent," Catalan regional leader says

Catalonia has been a dominant theme in Spanish politics since it briefly declared independence in October 2017 following a referendum deemed illegal by courts, prompting the country’s biggest political crisis in decades

Reuters
07 February, 2020, 08:55 pm
Last modified: 07 February, 2020, 09:00 pm
The leader of Catalonia's regional government Quim Torra talks during an interview with Reuters at the Palau de la Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain February 7, 2020. REUTERS/Nacho Doce
The leader of Catalonia's regional government Quim Torra talks during an interview with Reuters at the Palau de la Generalitat in Barcelona, Spain February 7, 2020. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

Catalonia's regional leader Quim Torra told Reuters on Friday that he wants to agree on a date for an independence referendum as part of talks with the Spanish government, arguing that the region's path towards secession is "irreversible".

Catalonia has been a dominant theme in Spanish politics since it briefly declared independence in October 2017 following a referendum deemed illegal by courts, prompting the country's biggest political crisis in decades.

Torra met on Thursday with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who rejects any move towards independence but agreed to hold talks with Catalonia's leaders to discuss the future of the wealthy northeastern region.

"We will be independent," Torra said in an interview at his 15th century regional government palace in Barcelona. He would not discuss a target date but said: "I am confident that the independence of Catalonia is absolutely irreversible."

Madrid has ruled out any independence referendum or amnesty for Catalan separatist leaders who were sentenced to jail or left the country after the botched independence declaration.

But Torra said he wants to discuss a date for an independence referendum and get results on both issues at a meeting later this month with the Spanish government, which Sanchez and he would chair.

"GO TO ROOTS OF CONFLICT"

Torra, who considers Sanchez should attend all the negotiation meetings, said the longstanding Catalan issue was not frozen but a "hot conflict".

"Let's talk on how we solve the roots of the conflict ... that means to let the Catalan people decide their own future democratically and peacefully," he said.

Talks between Madrid and the Catalan government were a condition set out by left-wing separatists from the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) party, who were instrumental in facilitating Sanchez's confirmation as prime minister last month.

The growing division among the two main separatist parties that rule the region - Torra's centre-right Junts per Catalunya and ERC - prompted Torra to announce a snap regional election last month. The earliest it can be is May. [

Torra said he will give a date for the vote the day after the Catalan budget is approved by the regional parliament.

He did not rule out the election being after the summer, which could benefit his party as it lacks a candidate and trailed ERC in recent votes.

Torra's own future is uncertain after over a year in office. He was sentenced in December to an 18-month ban from public office for refusing to remove symbols supporting jailed Catalan activists from government buildings and is awaiting an appeal.

Catalonia saw sometimes violent protests in October after nine separatist leaders were handed lengthy prison sentences.

Catalan Separatist Movement

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Excess liquidity Tk2 lakh cr again but banks have little in hand
    Excess liquidity Tk2 lakh cr again but banks have little in hand
  • Photo: Collected
    Extract more local gas, explore solar power: Experts
  • Rising egg prices hit low-income people’s protein intake
    Rising egg prices hit low-income people’s protein intake

MOST VIEWED

  • A view shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, 4 August, 2022. Photo: Reuters
    Ukraine warns of fresh 'provocations', shelling near occupied nuclear plant
  • New Jersey Police officers stand guard near the building where alleged attacker of Salman Rushdie, Hadi Matar, lives in Fairview, New Jersey, U.S., August 12, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
    Man suspected of attacking Salman Rushdie charged with attempted murder, assault
  • Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., June 22, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
    Global stocks rise, US yields fall as inflation slows
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra. Photo: Collected
    US says India hid Russian origin of fuel shipped to US, India central banker says
  • The Fitch Ratings logo is seen at their offices at Canary Wharf financial district in London,Britain, March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Reinhard Krause
    Ukraine in default according to Fitch and S&P
  • Customers shop for vegetables at the Central de Abastos Market in Mexico City, Mexico.Photographer: Alejandro Cegarra/Bloomberg
    Latin America led world into high-rate era. Now it’s stuck there

Related News

  • Catalan party ties Spain's government stability to separatist drive
  • Spanish PM hopes to meet Catalan leader, Madrid to negotiate deficit targets
  • Spain's top court asks EU Parliament to strip Catalan separatist leaders of immunity

Features

Toes and talons of Shikra. Photo; Enam Ul Haque

Shikra: A leopard with wings!

20h | Panorama
Photo: Noor-A-Alam

Around the world in 10 days: A chance to taste global cuisines

19h | Food
Lobbyists float ludicrous arguments to prevent tobacco control act amendment

Lobbyists float ludicrous arguments to prevent tobacco control act amendment

22h | Panorama
Will US-China tensions boil over?

Will US-China tensions boil over?

20h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Eggs are selling at record prices

Eggs are selling at record prices

10h | Videos
Dollar price increase affecting Karnaphuli tunnel construction

Dollar price increase affecting Karnaphuli tunnel construction

10h | Videos
Climate crisis a blessing in disguise to them

Climate crisis a blessing in disguise to them

11h | Videos
Growing rice crisis shows how important food self-sufficiency is for Bangladesh

Growing rice crisis shows how important food self-sufficiency is for Bangladesh

13h | Videos

Most Read

1
Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 
Banking

Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 

2
Photo: Collected
Transport

Will Tokyo’s traffic model solve Dhaka’s gridlocks?

3
Representational Image. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

Air passengers should plan extra commute time to airport: DMP

4
Arrest warrant against Habib Group chairman, 4 others 
Crime

Arrest warrant against Habib Group chairman, 4 others 

5
File Photo: State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid
Energy

All factories to remain closed once a week under rationing system

6
Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard. Photo: Courtesy
Bangladesh

Bangladesh never asked for particular info from Swiss bank: Ambassador

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]